Sustaining Greatness – an Interview with Three-Time Gold Medalist Karch Kiraly #263
The Brian Buffini Show
Brian Buffini
4.8 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 2 February 2021
⏱️ 51 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
“I aspire to be not a flash in the pan, but somebody who does it at a really high level for a very long time.” – Karch Kiraly
There is a uniqueness to those who become the best at what they do and then stay there. In this episode, Brian interviews Olympian Karch Kiraly, widely regarded as the best volleyball player of all time, about his decades-long pursuit of greatness. Having won at every level as both an athlete and a coach, Karch gives insight into his drive and mindset, outlines the three things needed to achieve excellence and explains how he approached the challenges of transitioning from playing to coaching.
YOU WILL LEARN:
- Why you must be demanding of yourself and others.
- Why failure is critical to success.
- Why you must always have a beginner’s mindset.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
“The Talent Code,” by Daniel Coyle
“The Emigrant Edge,” by Brian Buffini
“Peak,” by Anders Ericsson
“It's a Wonderful Life,” movie
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE:
“When you study greatness around the world, in many areas it's not about the facilities. It's not about the technology. It's about great coaching athletes who are passionate and have their passion ignited, and about really intense, mindful practice.” – Karch Kiraly
“Life is filled with adversity, and falling down, and losing and failure. And the people who can pick themselves up are the ones who are acclimated to doing it. If you've never had to do it before, that is a really difficult task.” – Karch Kiraly
“As teammates in life or teammates in any sport, teammates in any career, we have to strike a balance between support and challenge.” – Karch Kiraly
“Ancora imparo.” – Michelangelo
“Approach it as a beginner; approach it as a learner.” – Karch Kiraly
“When we focus on our blessings, instead of on the things that we don't have, we're going to be more grateful and we're going to lead happier lives and be better for the people around us.” – Karch Kiraly
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Music |
| 0:14.0 | Welcome to the Brian Bafini Show, where we explore the mindsets, motivation and methodologies of success. |
| 0:20.0 | Here's your coach, Brian Bafini. |
| 0:23.0 | Music |
| 0:41.0 | Well, the top of the morning, Tee, and welcome to the Brian Bafini Show. |
| 0:44.0 | I am very, very excited about today's show. |
| 0:47.0 | More than you guys would realize, you know we've had all kinds of famous people and business leaders |
| 0:52.0 | and celebrities and sports stars on this show. |
| 0:55.0 | But the gentleman I have on here today was somebody I met in 1986 and was absolutely awestruck by this person's ability, drive. |
| 1:06.0 | He is the best of anyone who's ever done this. |
| 1:09.0 | Now, I don't want to make him embarrassed, but for some of you, the name Karch Karai is a household name. |
| 1:14.0 | For some, maybe you don't know volleyball very well. |
| 1:17.0 | But Karch Karai, in my opinion, is the Michael Jordan of his sport. |
| 1:20.0 | And when you meet somebody, whether it be a Tiger Woods or a Jack Nicholas, somebody who's been the best of the very best, |
| 1:26.0 | it brings a unique perspective. |
| 1:28.0 | And sometimes, like I've had conversations with many people at the top of their world, they don't really know why. |
| 1:34.0 | Now, Karch is a cerebral guy who don't know why, but he's able to convey and communicate that today. |
| 1:40.0 | He was the captain of the team that won the Olympic gold medal in 88, 84, then switched to beach volleyball, won a gold medal there, |
| 1:49.0 | and then became the winningest outdoor beach volleyball player of all time. |
| 1:53.0 | He then translated his skills and now is the leader and the coach of the U.S. Women's National Team trying to win a gold medal in the next Olympics, |
| 2:01.0 | won a bronze in 2016. |
| 2:03.0 | When I came to San Diego in 1986, I had my motorcycle accident, I was stuck in a hospital bed, |
... |
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